Hoshi Reader vs Aya Reader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Hoshi Reader
This app is a lightweight Japanese EPUB reader designed for immersion learning. It features a pop-up dictionary with deinflection and supports Anki integration for vocabulary mining. Organize your library with bookshelves and track your reading progress.
- Vertical and horizontal reading modes
- Yomitan-like pop-up dictionary
- Anki mining support
- Customizable Anki card format
- Reading statistics
- Bookshelves for library organization
- Customizable themes and fonts
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Hoshi Reader is a lightweight Japanese EPUB reader with a built-in pop-up dictionary and Anki mining support, made for immersion learning. Main Features: - Vertical (縦書き) and horizontal (横書き) reading modes - Yomitan-like pop-up dictionary with proper deinflection support - Support for all Yomitan term, frequency and pitch dictionaries - Dictionary audio support - AnkiMobile mining support - Fully configurable Anki card format, with most handlebars targeting Lapis implemented - Sasayaki (Audiobooks): Sync audiobooks to book text to read along - Reading statistics - ッツ Reader sync - Bookshelves to organize your library - Customizable theme, font and layout
Aya Reader
This app breaks down language barriers in reading by offering instant translations and natural-sounding text-to-speech narration. It supports multiple file formats and integrates seamlessly with your device for a focused reading experience.
- Cross-language translation
- Text-to-speech narration
- EPUB, PDF, TXT support
- Background audio playback
- System file integration
- Adjustable speech rate
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Aya Reader: A Cross-Language Swiss Army Knife for ReadersAya Reader: The Cross-Language "Swiss Army Knife" for Readers In an era of information equity, great ideas should not be constrained by language barriers. As e-readers become increasingly bloated and digital bookshelves grow more ornate, Aya Reader chooses to step back. We offer no flamboyant flourishes or crowded decorations. Aya is a pure "Swiss Army Knife" built for a singular purpose: removing the two biggest obstacles in reading—language boundaries and eye fatigue. 1. Global Original Works, Rendered in Your Native Tongue We believe translation should not be an interruption; it should be an extension of cognition. Bridge the Language Gap: No matter the source language, Aya Reader brings it into your native tongue with translation that is always within reach. Full-Chapter Semantic Flow: Leave fragmented word lookups behind. Our deep, full-chapter processing preserves paragraph logic and reading rhythm, allowing you to absorb global knowledge as fluently as a native text. 2. Natural, Life-like Narration (TTS) To liberate your eyes, we have refined the Text-to-Speech experience with obsessive care. Top-Tier Voice Engines: Integrated with EdgeTTS and native iOS voices, Aya provides a natural, "breathable" listening experience that remains stable and pleasant over long sessions. Viewport-Level Precision: A unique "Non-Auto-Flip" logic and a "Return to Current Position" button ensure your eyes always stay in perfect sync with the audio. True Background Playback: With deep support for Audio and AirPlay, your reading continues seamlessly during commutes or moments of rest, even with the screen off. 3. A Pure Tooling Foundation Universal Format Support: Gracefully handles EPUB, PDF, and TXT to cover your primary reading workflow. System-Level Integration: Forget heavy file shuffling. Aya respects your storage and instincts—simply tap a file in any app to launch it directly via the system "Open" action. The Beauty of Detail: From panel translucency to precise speech-rate increments and sleep timers, every UI adjustment exists to make the tool disappear and let the text emerge. Product Manifesto Aya Reader does not want to change how you read. It simply wants to smooth out the boundaries of language and stay with you through those hours of deep, uninterrupted focus. If you are tired of complex setups and redundant features—if you only want to finish a book with undivided attention or quietly listen through a translated chapter—then this "Swiss Army Knife" was made for you.If you are tired of complex setup and redundant features, and you only want to finish a book with undivided attention or quietly read through a translated chapter, then this Swiss Army knife was made for you.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: Hoshi Reader at 20 against Aya Reader's 1. On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Hoshi Reader against 5.0 for Aya Reader. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hoshi Reader has 20 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Hoshi Reader | Aya Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (20 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 20 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Manh-Hao Steffen Pham | 晓阳 陈 |
Customer experience
Hoshi Reader
Aya Reader
In-app purchases
Hoshi Reader
No in-app purchases
Aya Reader
No in-app purchases









